about chuck hagel and all the criticisms of past positions on iraq on the surge, his relationship with john mccain, obviously a troubling factor in terms of mccain's response. >> he is well quadfied. i have known him for years. the president has known him for years. he is entitled to have the people he wants for his cabinet, unless there's? fundamental character flaw or policy difference which would make that person unqualified. i think you have to start with that premise, and i think you start with that premise, then you will not find the disqualifying factors there. chuck hagel is well known to the president. he is very, very well founded in foreign policy, security policy. he is a substantive individual, serious-minded, tough-minded, and blunt. >> is he tough enough to cut the pentagon budget where you know in this era that it has to be deeply cut? can he get that through without republican allies because he does seem to be short of republican allies? >> well, i think republicans and democrats are going have to decide what is our mission. what are the threats? what are the requirements t